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Volunteers busy preparing for annual AAUW book sale

Diane K. Bert
Published 10:24 a.m. ET Aug. 12, 2016

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Book sale volunteers for the American Association of University Women sort and organize donated books for their September 9-11 book sale. Barbara Cochran (left), Pam Hoffman, Dorie Marshall, and Coco Siewert enjoy the organizing process. Funds raised are for scholarships and charities.(Photo: Diane K. Bert)

Imagine sorting through 25,000 books, carefully choosing those in good condition, organizing them by category, placing them in labeled boxes, transporting them to the Masonic Temple on Woodward and displaying them. This is the process which the member volunteers of the Birmingham Branch of the American Association of University Women have been using to organize books for their 90th used book sale.

Pam Hoffman, co-chairman of the sale along with Carol Pyke and Dorie Marshall, said, “We are discerning about what we keep to sell. The dealers and customers appreciate this.”

“This event is the major fundraiser for AAUW, which uses the proceeds for scholarships for high school students and to support charitable organizations,” Pyke said. “We have been doing this for 90 years.”

“By the time we are done, we feel like we are 90,” Hoffman said with a laugh. “We have volunteers who are barrel pickers, visiting businesses weekly to empty the barrels of donated books. Volunteers also sort and box the books and, during the sale, they provide food for the workers, help customers and serve as cashiers. It is hard work, but it is fun and rewarding, too.

“The Bloomfield Hills school district has provided space for us to sort and organize the books for the past 12 years,” she added. “We are very grateful for this good relationship.”

It is not all hard work; there is laughter and fun when a worker discovers something that evokes humor. One book has especially been enjoyed: “Non Campus Mentis: World History According to College Students” gives quotations from the writing of somewhat confused college students. Here is an example: “Picasso was the famous artist who painted the Mona Lisa. Benito Mussolini was an artist who became overly famous.”

Sorters note first editions and books signed by authors and place them in the specialty room, along with special books about fine arts, Michigan history and automotive and railroad history. When dealers arrive at the sale, they often head for this room first. During the sorting, a few volunteers check the value of special books on websites and usually price them at half their stated value.

During the sale, there is a special time for teachers to come and select books for their classrooms at no charge. “This is especially popular with new, young teachers who appreciate this opportunity,” said Pyke, a retired elementary principal who knows what a fine service this is. AAUW members donate money to support this through the Patron Donor Fund.

Susan Mundy, former chair of the English department at Groves High School, said, “I used to get free books for the English Department and saved the school district lots of money. That is how I was introduced to AAUW. Now I am a member and worker. It is so well-organized. I am amazed at the degree of organization and the efficiency with which it runs.”

“During the sale, it is delightful to see parents and children come to shop together or to see someone find a long sought after book,” said Coco Siewert, a long-time volunteer.

Julie Matthews chooses books for soldiers overseas. She looks for crossword puzzles and paperbacks. Some books are donated to veterans hospitals at the end of the sale. Charities may select books then. Some books will go to the Little Free Library organizations.

The sale will be held Sept. 9-11 at the Masonic Temple on 37357 Woodward Avenue, north of Quarton Road. From 2-5 p.m. Friday, shoppers will pay a $10 admission fee to have first chance at the books. The public may enter 5:30-8:30 p.m. free of charge. The general book sale will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, at the clearance sale, bags of books may be filled for $5 a bag.

Over all of the 90-year tradition of the sale, it has been a win-win situation with bibliophiles getting inexpensive, wonderful books and the proceeds used to support higher education for eager students. Come join the fun!